Trace-carrier.



C. HOFFMAN.

TRACE CARRIER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1913.

1,165,879. Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

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abhor/W130 CHARLES HOFFMAN, OF MoI-IENRY, NORTH DAKOTA.

TRACE-CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915..

Application filed May 16, 1913. Serial No. 768,105.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at McHenry, in the county of Foster, State of North Dakota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace- Carriers;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention is directed to improvements in trace carriers, andhas for its object to so construct a device of this character that thesame can be readily attached to the harness so as to support the traceswhen not in use.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the locking tonguesthat the usual cock-eyes can be easily and quickly engaged therewith anddisengaged therefrom.

With these and other objects in view, this invention resides in thenovel features of construction, formation, combination and arrangementof parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which Figure is a plan view of thedevice. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the device showing the cockeye in the position assumedprevious to disengagement. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of oneof the tongues.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a frame, whichcomprises a circular base 2, and a web 3, said web being connected tothe base 2 by arms 4 and 5.

Mounted upon the web 3 are spaced ears 6, which support the pin 7, andupon which is pivotally connected the tongues 8, said tongues beingformed from sheet metal and have their outer ends provided with prongs 9which embrace the arms 5 when said tongues are forced toward the same.

Interposed between the web 3 and tongues 8 are coil springs 10, whichserve to force said tongues away from the arms 5.

Connected to the base 2 and at the point of juncture of the arms 5therewith are hooks 11, which have their bills 12 adapted to contactwith the tongues 8 at a point a short distance from the free endsthereof.

From this construction it will be seen that when it is desired to placethe cock-eye 13 in engagement with a hook 11, it is only necessary toplace the same in engagement with one of the tongues 8 and upon exertingpressure upon the cock-eye, the tongue will be forced toward the arm 5,thereby permitting the cock-eye to engage the hook, after which thetongue will under the action of the spring 10 return to engagement withthe hook 11. To disengage the cock-eye it is only necessary to force thesame into engagement with that portion of the tongue 8 which projectsbeyond the point of contact with the bill of the hook, thus forcing thetongue downwardly, whereby the cock-eye can be readily removed.

vVhat is claimed is A trace carrier including a ring, a plurality ofsubstantially radial arms within the ring and formed integral therewith,all of said arms being mutually connected, limiting ears and anintermediate ear mounted on the mutual portion of said arms, a pair ofspring pressed tongues pivoted between the intermediate ear and thelimiting ears respectively, and hooks carried by certain of the arms andengaging respectively the free ends of said tongues.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES HOFFMAN.

Witnesses:

P. MoNErL, A. JACKSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

